The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is one of the world’s finest working stables, responsible for all road travel for His Majesty The King and the Royal Family — and open to the public each spring and summer.
This guide was updated in May 2026. The most important price correction: adult admission is now £18.00, not the £13 shown on numerous third-party sites still referencing the pre-2024 tariff from the Royal Collection Trust’s own outdated page. A second planning note often missing from guides: the Royal Mews is a seasonal attraction, open only from 5 March to 1 November 2026. It does not open in winter. You can book on Viator to secure your tickets in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 1QH |
| Season | 5 March – 1 November 2026 |
| Standard hours | 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:00) |
| Closed | Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except peak summer — see below) |
| Adult admission | £18.00 |
| Young person (18–24) | £12.00 |
| Child (5–17) | £9.00 |
| Disabled person | £9.00 |
| Under-5s | Free |
| Nearest Tube | Victoria (10-min walk); St James’s Park (10-min walk) |
| Typical visit | 1–1.5 hours |
Opening hours
The Royal Mews is open from 5 March to 1 November 2026. Standard hours are 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:00. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout most of the season. During peak summer (approximately late July to the end of August), the Mews opens daily. Check the official Royal Collection Trust website for the exact daily open dates before you travel, as closures can also occur at short notice due to royal engagements.
The Royal Mews is part of a working royal palace. Last-minute closures do occur. The RCT website and ticket booking system reflect these in real time.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT and a complimentary multimedia guide. Tickets can be purchased online, at the visitor entrance on Buckingham Palace Road, or by converting an existing 1-Year Pass visit.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £18.00 |
| Young person (18–24) | £12.00 |
| Child (5–17) | £9.00 |
| Disabled person | £9.00 |
| Access companion | Free |
| Under-5s | Free |
£1 tickets are available for those receiving Universal Credit or other named UK benefits. Book directly through the Royal Collection Trust website. Children go half price on all standard tickets.
Your ticket can be converted to a 1-Year Pass for unlimited re-admission at no extra charge (a £2 transaction fee applies when pre-booking return visits using the pass). Ask the Wardens to stamp your ticket at the end of your visit.
Book on Viator for advance booking.
Why visit the Royal Mews?
- 🏆 The Gold State Coach: The spectacular 260-year-old State Coach — used at the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023, the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and every coronation since William IV — is on permanent display and is one of the most extraordinary objects in any royal collection in the world.
- 🐎 A real working stable: The Royal Mews is not a museum — it is the working stable responsible for royal road transport today. The Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays are still stabled and trained here for ceremonial duties.
- 🎟️ Your ticket becomes an annual pass: Converting your standard ticket to a 1-Year Pass at the end of your visit gives unlimited free re-admission for 12 months at no additional cost (just a £2 booking fee for return visits).
- 💷 £1 tickets for benefit claimants: Visitors on Universal Credit or other named UK benefits can book tickets for £1 through the Royal Collection Trust website — a policy almost entirely absent from third-party guides.
- 🏛️ Multimedia guide in nine languages: Every ticket includes a complimentary multimedia guide available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Mandarin.
How to get there
By Tube: Victoria station (Victoria, District, and Circle lines) is approximately 10 minutes on foot. Walk south along Buckingham Palace Road; the visitor entrance is on the right-hand side before the main palace forecourt. St James’s Park (District and Circle lines) is also about 10 minutes.
By bus: Routes 11, 211, C1, and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road directly outside or near the Mews entrance.
By train: London Victoria is the nearest mainline station, approximately 10 minutes on foot via Buckingham Palace Road.
The visitor entrance is on Buckingham Palace Road (the south-western side of the palace complex). All visitors pass through airport-style security on arrival.
Five great things to do in London
- 🚖 Take a private black cab tour around London’s highlights – with hotel pick-up.
- 🧙 Discover Harry Potter filming locations – and spots that inspired the books – on a wizarding walking tour.
- 🍴 Taste the best of British cuisine on a food tour through Borough Market.
- 🚲 Combine landmarks, pubs and street art – on a guided bike tour.
- ⛴️ Take a sightseeing cruise along the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich.
Parking
There is no car park at the Royal Mews and no coach parking in the immediate area. Coaches can use agreed set-down and pick-up points nearby — groups should contact the Royal Collection Trust in advance for current arrangements. Visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive by Tube or bus. On-street parking in the area is very limited and subject to strict restrictions.
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How long to spend
Most visitors take one to one and a half hours to complete the self-guided multimedia tour, which is designed to last approximately one hour. Allow extra time for school-holiday drop-in activities, the gift shop, and queuing through security on busy days.
Accessibility
The Royal Mews is fully accessible. Most of the site is outdoors with covered sections. Manual wheelchairs and rollators are available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. An accessible toilet and Changing Places facility are available. BSL multimedia tour and an audio descriptive tour for blind or partially-sighted visitors are included with standard admission. A number of Wardens are Dementia Friends. Registered assistance dogs are welcome. The access companion ticket is free.
What to see at the Royal Mews
The visit follows a self-guided multimedia tour through the stables, carriage houses, and coach houses of this working royal facility.
The Gold State Coach is the centrepiece of the collection — a four-tonne, gilded 18th-century coach commissioned by George III in 1762 and used at every coronation since. It was last driven in public at the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is the newest coach at the Mews, built in 2012 and fitted with extraordinary amenities including central heating and air conditioning. The Australian State Coach, a gift from the Australian people, is also on display.
The horses are Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays, stabled in the magnificent 1825 stable block. Visitors can see the horses in their stalls and observe the grooms and coachmen at work. Trying on livery and tacking up a wooden pony are popular hands-on family activities.
The royal cars are also held at the Mews, including State Limousines used for official engagements — a reminder that the Mews covers modern royal road transport as well as its historical carriage collection.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check for closures before you go | The Royal Mews is part of a working royal palace and can close at short notice. Check the official RCT website or your booking confirmation for any updates on the day of your visit. |
| It is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays | Outside peak summer, the Mews closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week. Many visitors arrive to find it shut. Book on Viator in advance so you can confirm your chosen day is open. |
| Convert your ticket to a 1-Year Pass | At the end of your visit, ask a Warden to stamp your ticket. This converts it to a 1-Year Pass for free unlimited re-admission — no extra charge beyond a £2 booking fee for pre-booking return visits. |
| No food or drink inside | Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the Royal Mews, except for bottled water. You will be asked to seal food and drinks in a bag before entering. Plan to eat before or after your visit. |
| Bring your own headphones | The multimedia guide uses a standard audio jack. The RCT recommends bringing your own headphones for a better listening experience. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Royal Mews open all year? | No. It is a seasonal attraction, open from 5 March to 1 November 2026 only. It is also closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for most of the season (open daily during peak summer). |
| Is the adult price really £18? | Yes — the current Royal Collection Trust pricing for 2026 confirms £18.00 for adults. Many third-party guides still show the pre-2024 price of £13. Book on Viator for the confirmed current price. |
| Is there a cheaper way to visit the Royal Mews? | Yes — two options. £1 tickets are available to those on Universal Credit or other named UK benefits. Alternatively, the Royal Day Out combined ticket for all three Buckingham Palace attractions (State Rooms, King’s Gallery, Royal Mews) includes a 10% discount, available from 9 July to 27 September 2026. |
| Can I see the horses every day? | The Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays are working horses and may be out on duties. Seeing the horses in their stalls is not guaranteed on any given day, but is common during standard visiting hours. |
| Is the multimedia guide included? | Yes — every ticket includes a complimentary multimedia guide in nine languages. A separate family guide and a BSL guide are also available free of charge. |
Things to do nearby
The Buckingham Palace State Rooms open annually from 9 July to 27 September and are directly accessible from the same Palace complex. A Royal Day Out combined ticket covering the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and The King’s Gallery is available at a 10% discount during the summer overlap.
St James’s Park is immediately east of Buckingham Palace — London’s oldest royal park, free to enter, with the famous pelicans, the lake view back towards the palace, and the bridge across the lake offering one of the best vantage points in central London.
The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (entrance on Buckingham Palace Road, near the Mews) is a dedicated gallery space showing changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. The current exhibition is Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, running until October 2026. Free multimedia guide included with admission.
Westminster Abbey is about 15 minutes on foot east from the Mews, through St James’s Park and across Parliament Square. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the site of every English and British coronation since 1066, it is a natural continuation of a royal-themed day.
The Churchill War Rooms are in the basement beneath Whitehall, approximately 15 minutes on foot. The fully preserved wartime Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum make for a compelling contrast to the ceremonial grandeur of the Royal Mews.
What to visit tomorrow
Windsor Castle (~1 hour by train from London Waterloo or Paddington): The Royal Collection Trust’s other major visitor attraction and the world’s largest occupied castle. Windsor is the principal weekend residence of the Royal Family and covers 900 years of royal history — a natural companion piece to the Royal Mews visit, particularly given the historical carriage connections.
Kensington Palace (30 min by Tube, High Street Kensington): Managed by Historic Royal Palaces, Kensington Palace was the home of Princess Diana and is now the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Changing exhibitions from the royal wardrobe make it a particularly good choice for visitors interested in royal fashion and personal history.
Hampton Court Palace (~30 min by train from London Waterloo): Henry VIII’s magnificent Tudor palace on the Thames, managed by Historic Royal Palaces. The Great Hall, the Chapel Royal, the State Apartments, and the famous Hampton Court Maze occupy a full day. The contrast between Tudor and Victorian royal life — having seen the Royal Mews — is striking.
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh (~4.5 hrs by train): The King’s official Scottish residence, also managed by the Royal Collection Trust, and the seasonal counterpart to Buckingham Palace. The abbey ruins, the State Apartments, and the current temporary exhibitions make it the most complete royal palace experience in Scotland.
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire (~1.5 hrs from London Paddington + taxi): The only non-royal English palace — the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its baroque grandeur, Capability Brown landscape, and Churchill connection make it one of the finest country house experiences in Britain.
More London travel
Other London travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Underrated London attractions: Apsley House, Jewel Tower and the Postal Museum.
- Maritime Greenwich: The Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark.
- Bloomsbury and Holborn: The Foundling Museum, the Charles Dickens Museum and Sir John Soane’s Museum.
- The cultural treasure of Hampstead: Kenwood House, the Freud Museum and Keats House.
- Away from the centre: Eltham Palace, Charles Darwin’s Down House and Marble Hill.
